Page 106 of Not Your Little Girl Anymore

“We’ll be in touch,” he says to no one specific before leaving, and I feel like I can finally breathe again.

“Your coordinator seems nice.” I swallow.

“He’s not so bad once you get to know him. He’s currently pissed off because Alec turned down a great deal for you and made him look like a fool. He’ll get over it,” Samantha says, but that doesn’t make me feel any better.

A few more minutes go by. I know I’m pushing the time further, but I haven’t figured out how to tell Alec that Chloe is coming with me to the station with our evidence. And seeing as everyone is still here, I can’t wait any longer. Even if that means they all know what’s going on.

“Alec,” I start, grabbing his attention. He turns to me with worry spread across his face, and I hate that I gave him something to worry about. “I talked to Chloe. She is meeting me at the commons to accompany me with the recording…”

Tyler stands with narrowed brows. I guess I worried him, too. “What recording?”

Alec raises a hand for Tyler to wait a minute. “You’re not going alone.”

“I won’t be alone. Chloe will be with me.”

Alec shakes his head. “Absolutely fucking not. I’m going with you.”

I can see the anger mixed with panic in his eyes as we have a quick.

All I hear is one of the guys whisper, “Do you know what recording they are talking about?”

I go to stand, but Alec stops me. “Sit back down.”

“No. I need to meet Chloe in…” I make a small glance at the clock. “Twenty-five minutes. I need you to download everything onto a USB drive so I can speak to Officer Brentley.”

“This isn’t up for discussion. I’m going with you.”

My teeth grit together. “No. I’m going with Chloe. You cannot come with me for this. It’s not safe for you.”

“And it’s safe for you?!” he shouts.

“Will you both shut the fuck up!” Samantha steps in. “We have no clue what it is you’re fighting about, but please, for all of our fucking sanities, shut up.”

“It’s a recording of how my father set up Alec because his father had an affair with my mother. Which I believe is the reason that my father potentially murdered my mother. It needs to be sent in.” I inform Samantha but keep my angry eyes on Alec.

“Holy shit…” James chuckles, and I give him a sarcastic smile.

“OK. So, we all go…” Sam suggests, and I cut in even more angry than I was.

“What? No. How is that…”

Her dagger eyes stake through me, and I clamp my mouth shut before finishing. “We all go, but we wait in the car—including Alec. I’m not sure that will even help much, but at least it’ll ease his mind. You are now a part of our family here. I think the guys can agree on that. We’re not letting you go through this alone.”

I look over her shoulder toward James and Tyler. They both smirk and shrug. I would argue, but I don’t think I have any more arguments left in me, so I nod my head. However, I can tell Alec isn’t happy.

“This is fucking bullshit.” Alec grits.

Chapter Thirty-eight

Summer

Sweat trickles down the back of my neck the further we drive in the direction of the commons. My throat feels like it’s closing in on me, nearly cutting off my entire air supply. The sun bores down, and the humidity only worsens the crummy feeling I have cramped inside me.

Breathe Summer.

I close my eyes, taking in a shaggy breath.

A warm hand squeezes my upper thigh, forcing me to open my eyes. My heart skips when I look into Alec’s soft gray eyes. The anger that coated them five minutes ago has slowly vanished, and now he’s left with unease and worry. I can’t fault him for feeling the way he does.

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